Match



Dec. 9, 1947.

B. A. W EYL MATCH Filed 001;. 5, 1946 & M/M dud Patented Dec. 9, 1947 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE MATCH BernardA. Weyl, Dormant, Pa.

Application October 5, 1946, Serial No. 701,440

' 4 Claims. (01. 44-42) My invention relates to matches, and consists in certain new and useful improvements in safety matches.

The art is familiar with matches formed of two separable match elements, one element consisting' of a match splint provided at one end with a head formed of an igniting compound, and the other element comprising a sleeve, or other detachable member, assembled in contact with the head and carrying a striking material. When the two match elements are relatively moved, as by pulling the sleeve from the splint, the striking material is drawn frictionally across the surface of the head and ignites the match. More particularly, my invention relates to matches of this general class.

Such matches are safety matches which may be carried on the person without the need of a box or other container, and no striking surface is required to ignite them.

The object of the invention is to provide a two-part match which is safe against unintentional ignition, and which may be readily ignited when intended. If for any reason one of a group of the matches should be ignited, the rest of the group remains safe against the efiect of the flame.

A further object is to provide a match that is weatherproof and waterproof-a match that may be immersed in water without loss of its igniting and burning qualities.

Still another object is to provide an improved match of colorful appearance and increased sales appeal.

And still another and an exceedingly important object is to provide a match of this kind that may be manufactured with minimum modification of existing procedures of match production, and with minimum refinement of existing match-producing apparatus.

While I have indicated that my match is produced in individual units, it will be understood from the following specification that a plurality of the matches may be provided in a pack, this being particularly true when the splints of the matches are formed of paper or cardboard.

The invention will be understood upon reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a view in side elevation of a match of the invention;

Figure 2 is a fragmentary view of the match, to larger scale, and showing parts of the match in side elevation and parts in section, on a plane of section extending on the axis of the match body -or splint;

Figure 3 is an isometric sectional View of a match of modified form. Whereas the splint of the match of Figure 1 is formed of wood, the splint of the match of Figure 3 is formed of cardboard;

Figure 4 is a view similar to Figure 2, showing another modification in the structure of the match of the invention; 7

Figure 5 is a view similar to Figure 2, illustrating still another modification'in the match of the invention; and

Figure 6 is aview in plan of astrip of matches integrally formed of cardboard, and illustrating in broken lines the manner in which two complementary strips of matches may be cut from a single web of cardboard without loss of material.

Referring to' Figures 1 and 2, a match of the invention will be understood to comprise a match stem or splint 2, produced from wood in conventional way. Upon the splint a head 3 of igniting compound is applied by means of matchdipping apparatus, not shown, but of construction and mode of operation years old in the art.

Suflice it to say that the ignition compound is provided in the form of a thick fluid or paste,

into which the match-producing apparatus automatically clips the end of the splint and removes it, supporting the splint until the moisture in the applied paste is evaporated, leaving the solidified head 3. Of course, the apparatus operates upon a multiplicity of splints simultaneously, but as said this invention is not immediately concerned with such known apparatus and procedure, other than to the extent that the match of the invention lends itself to them.

A typical igniting compound is given by way of example: I

Parts by weight Potassium chlorate Sulfide of antimony 30 Powdered glass 7 Gum arabic 10 Glue 2 Water Suificient to make a dipping paste Upon the head 3, and upon the splint body portion 2a adjacent thereto, I apply (in some cases, but not all) a thin coating 4 of lubricant. The coating 4 is essentially formed of a lubricating material which does not attach or act with deteriorating effect upon the compound of which the head is formed. Such lubricating material may comprise powdered soapstone, or zinc dust, or graphite, suspended in a liquid vehicle, such capacity to burn when the head is ignited. The" paraffin when applied and dried or congealed may be said to be a dry lubricant. The coating of lubricant, no matter what particular lubricating.

material is used, is advantageously applied by dipping the headed end of the match in a liquid bath of the material. the match from the bath, the applied liquid material is dried and/or congealed.

Over the coating 4* of lubricant a thin layer or film 5 of striking compound is applied. The striking compound is formed as a paste of the following ingredients:

Parts by weight Amorphous phosphorus 5 Antimony sulphide l Gum tragacanth 1 Water 14 As in the case of the match head and the lubricant coating, the layer of striking co-mpzund is preferably applied in. a dipping operation and dried.

Applied externally upon the layer or film 5 of striking compound is a yieldable envelope, or jacket, or cap 6. This jacket comprises a mass of a material that possesses both elasticity and tensile strength, such a material, for example, as natural rubber, or a synthetic rubber such as an organic polysulfide, or a plastic material such as ethyl cellulose, or a vinyl chloride copolymer resin, or an alkyd resin, or a synthetic polyvinyl alcohol resin, or the like,v properly plasticized and prepared in a suitable solvent or liquid vehicle to a consistency proper for application to the jacket in a dipping. operation, to form a relatively thick. membrane in the form of a cap that is molded upon or integrally conforms to the match head, and preferably but not essentially to the adjacent portion of the splint. The membrane may be in some cases as much as i%" in thickness, ormore.

While there may be other modes of applying the jacket-forming material, I apply the jacket 6 in a dipping operation, since such operation lends itself to the procedure and apparatus that have been long and successfully employediri ap plying the heads to matches. After the material is applied and the Iiduid vehicle or solvent is evaporated, the lsi'dllal' I'Il'a'fil'iall congeals in the form or the desired elastic jacket, or seamless envelope.

The applied thick membrane forms a jacket which is integrally united with the layer 5 of striking compound, and the united layer and jacket membrane 5, 6 form a detachable striking element upon the head." 3 of the match. In order to ignite the match, the jacket .is pressed between the thumb and finger of the user, and pulled endwise from the match, the film 4 of the lubricant serving not only to prevent the striking element from sticking to the head. 3', but to facilitate the separation of the component-match elements 2, 3 and 5,6 under intentionally ap- Upon removing the end of.

plied stress. As the match elements are thus separated, the striking compound rubs through the coating 4 of lubricant and strikes the head 3 of igniting compound. The match lights.

The essential tensile strength of the material of which the thick membrane 6 is formed is effective to maintain the integrity thereof under the stress applied in pulling it from the match head. Since the match head is of approximately spherical form, the snug-ly fitting body of the striking element 5, 6 must expand radially when it is pulled over the match head. The value of the elasticity of the body of the element 6 will now be apparent: The body of the element 6 preferably does not rupture when it is expanded in its passage over the match head, and furthermore the elasticity of the body of the element 6 operates, as the element expands in its movement over the head, to exert a radially compressive stress upon the layer 5 of striking compound, thereby pressing the striking compound into match-igniting contact with the head.

The material of which the element 6 is formed is preferably insoluble in water, to protect the layer 5 of striking composition from the deleterious effects of moisture, and to assist the coating A of paraffin (when such a lubricant is used) in maintaining the match head in condition for ignition, and in. safeguarding it against unintended ignition.

It will also be understood that the material of which the element or jacket 6 is formed may be brightly colored, to lend a pleasing appearance to the match. Additionally, the jacket might be fashioned in the shape of a miniature bottle,

or other object, for purposes of advertising. More specifically, the jacketed end of the match, while the applied material 6 is still plastic, may be shaped as desired between the sections of a twopart mold or die.

While I have described the element 6 as formed of a water-insoluble plastic material, I contemplate forming it in some instances of a relatively inexpensive mixture that may be soluble in water, and over the external surface of the jacket applying a coating of any commercial lacquer or varnish, colored if desired, that is insoluble in water.

follows:

Parts by weight Opaque flake glue 4.5 Glycerine 1.5 Water 6.0

In forming the jacket of" this material. I may first apply a thin coating of cellulose lacquer to the layer 5 of striking compound; The thin film of applied lacquer protects the phosphorus in the striking compound from the effect of the glycerine in the jacket element or heavy membrane 6.

Figure 3 illustrates that the match splint may be formed of paper or cardboard 2b. The head 31), lubricant coating 4?), layer of striking compound 5b, and jacket 66' are applied in the manner already described. The head 52) of the match is more ellipsoidal than spherical in: shape, and this is due to the rectangular cross section of the paper splint 26; that is, the particular shape of the head 32), and the coatings successively applied thereto, is of a tear-drop configuration that naturally forms on the dippedp'aper splint.

Figure 4 shows a modification which may be embodied in either the wooden splint or in the paper splint type of match. For purposes of il- A mixture that has been employed is as lustration, it has been shown in a match having a wooden splint 2c.

The end of the match, to which the head 30 is applied, is reduced in diameter, as indicated at 2d, with the effect that the dipped head of the match is substantially uniform in diameter with the shank 2c of the splint. In consequence of this modification, the coating 40 of lubricant, the layer 5c of striking compound, and the jacket membrane 60, which with the layer of striking compound forms the striking element of the match, are all of substantially cylindrical form. The striking element of this match is more readily removable; the striking element need not expand appreciably as it is pulled ofi the match, and for this reason the jacket element 60 need not be, although preferably it is, formed of an elastic material.

Figure 5 illustrates a match having a wooden splint 2e and a head 38. The head 36 contains all of the ingredients necessary to produce ignition, as is the head of the so-called kitchen match which may be ignited by striking it on any dry frictional surface. For example, the head 3e of the match may be formed by dipping the splint in a paste of the following composition:

The phosphorus, sulphur and powdered glass are thoroughly mixed before the potassium chlorate and glue are added with the water and made into a paste, and thereafter the potassium ferrocyanide is added and mixed.

As in the case of the matches already described, a coating 4c of lubricant may be applied to the match head 32 and to the portion of the splint body adjacent thereto. Whereas in the matches first described the striking compound carried by the pull-away jacket comprises an individually applied layer that is united with the jacket, in the match of Figure 5 the striking substance is included in the body of the jacket. The striking material in the case of the match of Figure 5, whose head 36 includes all the ingredients essential to ignition under applied friction, comprises ground glass, sand, or other suit able abrasive, which is mixed into the material (one of the above-specified materials) of which the jacket is formed. In the production ofthis modified form of match, it will be perceived that one dipping operation is eliminated. Indeed, it

will be found that certain of the water-insoluble plastic materials mentioned, such as natural rubber, synthetic rubber, as well as commercial grades of other materials specified operate satisfactorily without a lubricantsufiicient lubricating effect being present in the plastic material itselfand in consequence the lubricant-applying dipping operation may be also eliminated.

In Figure 6, I indicate that the matches may be formed of a strip of cardboard that is cut to provide two lines la and lb of match splints 2). It will be seen that the cutting of the paperboard strip is achieved with no loss or waste of material. The several splints thus formed are provided with the jacketed heads of the invention, and needless to say the lines of matches may be cut into sections of desired length, and a predetermined number of sections clipped together to form a packet of matches.

The modifications described and many others will be found to lie Within the field of the invention defined in the appended claims.

The application for these Letters Patent comprises a continuation-in-part of my application, Serial No. 502,133, filed September 13, 1943.

I claim:

1. A match comprising a splint having at one end a head of igniting compound, a coating of lubricant on said entire head, and a detachable jacket of elastic material snugly fit on said coated head in the form of an outer coating, said jacket being interiorly coated with a striking compound and being removable substantially without destruction thereby frictionally rubbing against substantially the entire surface of the head and igniting said compound.

2. A match comprising a splint having at one end a head of igniting compound, a coating of lubricant on said head, and a dipped jacket of rubber snugly fit on and enveloping the entire head in the form of an outer coating, the inner wall surface of said jacket being coated with striking material for igniting said compound as the result of friction caused by removal of said jacket from said head.

3. A match comprising a stem provided with a head of igniting compound, and an unitary yieldable cap formed of a relatively thick membrane of congealed plastic material shaped before congealing upon and enclosing said head and internally conforming thereto and providing a deformably endwise removable enclosure, and

striking material within said envelope in contactwith said head and movable with the envelope relatively to said head.

4. A match comprising a stem provided with a head of igniting compound, and an unitary yieldable cap formed of a relatively thick membrane of solidified plastic material shaped before solidification upon and enclosing said head and internally conforming and detachably adhered thereto and providing a deformably endwise removable protective enclosure, and striking material carried by said envelope to contact said 7 head when the envelope is removed therefrom.

BERNARD A. WEYL. 

